Improvement in car-brakes



G. MATHEWS.

Gar-Brakes.

N o I5 3, 9 7 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1874.

H mvemn: 67

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

v THE GRAPHIC COJHOTO -LITH.SB&4\T PARK PLACEJLY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MATHEWS, OF SALT GREEK,OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-BRftKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,972, dated August 11, 1874; application file-d May 23,1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MATHEWS, of Salt Creek, in the county of Holmes and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Gar-Brake, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a bottom view of a railroad or street car with my brake attached; and Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, the winding cam-wheel or leverarm of brake rod, for expediting the operation of brake.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention consists in connecting the main or central brake-lever of the series to the bottom of the car by a rope, chain, or other flexible medium, to adapt it to co-operate with the other parts of the brake mechanism, with minimum strain and friction, as herein decribed.

Inthe drawing, A represents the car; B, the lateral brake-bars bearing on the wheels 5 and O, the-main lever, which is suspended by wheels by means of the symmetrical leverconnections of the main lever and brake-bars. For the purpose of expediting the action of the brake without increasing the efl'ort required for applying the brakes, the brakerods 1) are provided with a spiral cam-wheel, E, as indicated in Fig. 2, or with a lever-arm, E, as shown in Fig. 2, or other equivalent device, the same being placed somewhat below the height of the main lever, so that the winding up of the chain on the shaft is not interfered with by the cam-wheel or arm. The chains on are hooked or otherwise attached to a point of the cam-wheel or arm E farthest from the rod or shaft, the spiral cam-wheel being also suitably grooved for taking up and conducting the'chain to the upper part of the shaft. B5 suspending the lever O by means of a chain or rope, it is adapted to sway or adjust its position according to the action of the other parts of the brake' mechanism, and thus enable the operation of braking to be offected with the least strain or friction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

The suspended central brake-lever G,

combination with the levers D I), rods d e,

beams B, chains (1, and rods b, all constructed Witnesses:

W. STILWELL, M. A. HOAGLAND. 

